5 things to know after the storming of a Minnesota church by Anti-ICE activists

U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon speaks with Benny Johnson on Jan. 19, 2026.
U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon speaks with Benny Johnson on Jan. 19, 2026.

1. DOJ vows to enforce federal laws, activates FBI

During a Monday interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon condemned Minnesota officials for failing to enforce state laws. 

“It is evil to attack any house of worship in America; it is illegal,” Dhillon stated. 

She said that prosecutors have been sent from Washington to Minnesota and that the FBI has been "activated." 

"We've already prosecuted numerous attacks on churches so far in the last nine months since I took office," she declared. 

Dhillon accused Minnesota’s attorney general, district attorney, local leaders and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of refusing to enforce “their own state laws,” which she noted prohibit actions like the Sunday disruption at the Cities Church. 

“Well, if they’re not going to enforce their laws, we will enforce our federal laws, and we are already doing that,” Dhillon declared. 

In a Sunday X post, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that she had spoken with the pastor at the church where the disruption occurred. 

“I just spoke to the Pastor in Minnesota whose church was targeted,” Bondi wrote. “Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law.”

“If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails,” she continued.

Samantha Kamman is a reporter for The Christian Post. She can be reached at: samantha.kamman@christianpost.com. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman

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